Window Company Might Need A New Radio Ad Strategy

November 8, 2013November 11, 2013 / Duane Christensen

Image courtesy of “domdeen” / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Listening to the radio the other morning, a window Ad caught my attention. That’s good. That’s what it’s supposed to do. Well, it’s the first thing it’s supposed to do, but that’s not the ONLY thing it should do.

The ad started out giving reasons why someone might need new windows. Drafty, fogged up, condensation, etc. I immediately thought of a few of my older windows. Then, I also thought replacing my windows is not something I needed to do right away. They’re not that bad. Maybe my heat bill is a few bucks higher…oh well.

But here’s the thing that the advertiser failed to do. They failed to make me feel good about THEIR company. They didn’t give me any reason to trust them more than any other window company. All they did was educate me on the signs that I don’t have a perfectly efficient window. I don’t even remember the name of the company (because they failed to give me a reason to remember them).

Here’s the thing about windows. It’s not like buying groceries. People will take a lot of time to consider their options. And people also don’t need to replace their windows very often…or ever. So, the number of people who are in the market right now for new windows is very very small.

The window company radio ads should either be branding themselves to the public. Or they should have had a whopper of an offer, call to action, or added value mentioned in their ad…in order to make the people who really need new windows ACT NOW.

The best kind of advertising would be of the branding sort. The kind of ad strategy that glues a business name in the public’s mind. That series of ads would make me trust THAT company above all others. That company would cause me to feel good about their company. And they would tell me their stories in their ads consistently and repetitively over time on the Radio. That way…I’ll remember them and feel best about them when the time comes for me to replace my windows.

You might say, why not just always have a great offer or a discount of some kind and only attract the people who need your product or service at this very moment?

It’s because that percentage of the population is really small. And you’d be fighting against all the other window companies making offers as well. And then you mostly attract the people looking for the best deal. And you have to make one heck of an offer or discount available…decreasing your profits. Over and over and over and over. It’s an endless cycle of PANIC and a “what kind of deal can we offer this week or month to drum up some business?” kind of situation.

But when you get people to basically love you and trust you and REMEMBER you for wonderful reasons BEFORE they ever have a need for your product or service…then you attract a better kind of customer who is on the lookout for a trustworthy and high-quality business to buy from. That buyer is far more profitable. That buyer won’t get quotes from 17 different window companies (or whatever industry you’re in). They’ll start with you. You’ll either be on the TOP of their list of who to call, or you’ll at least be the top 1, 2, or 3. And that’s WAY better than being the 11th option…or not an option at all.

See what I mean?

Radio can work wonders for you…when you have the right strategy and the right kind of branding message that causes people to remember you for the right things.

You might not even know that Radio Advertising can work really well. You might be considering a “mobile” ad campaign because everyone has mobile phones, right? That’s gotta be the best way to find a new customer, right?

And all that time you were wondering what new technology you could dive into to capture new customers…Radio was always there. And always with the huge potential to help grow your business. But you just weren’t using it correctly.

I hope this example from the window company radio ad helped shed some light on things for you. It’s not that the radio ads can’t help them. They can. Especially if there aren’t a lot of other window companies advertising. You can win a little just by default if your competition isn’t doing much advertising. But it’s just my opinion…this ad campaign can be much much better.

If you have any specific questions about radio advertising or about any other kind of advertising (digital, text campaigns, TV, print, etc.), all you have to do is ask. Either email me or call me. Let’s sit down and figure out the best things we can say to your potential, profitable new customers. Let’s talk over your options.

I want your advertising to work for you. I want you to see business growth and prosperity year after year. Let me know if you’d like some help.

Thanks. Have a groovy day!

Duane Christensen

Results Radio Townsquare Media (8 radio station group)

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

605-940-7984

duane.christensen@results-radio.com

I write this blog on behalf of my sales and marketing career at Results Radio Townsquare Media. My goal: Help more local business owners get more for their advertising buck…and be thrilled with the results.

Little Things

August 20, 2013 / Duane Christensen

Image courtesy of “bulldogza” / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

As I WROTE…

And RE-WROTE…

And SCRIBBLED a few new radio scripts for a fitness center type of client, I realized how much the scripts improved as I made changes. Sometime little changes. And it wasn’t too difficult, it just took some extra time and care. For example,

I was writing something about “obsessing about weight” …and it was boring. So, I started cruising around Google looking for a “spark” regarding weight or weight loss. And that brought me to some information about the gravity on the planet Mars – a 250-pound person here on Earth would only weigh 95 pounds on Mars. Ta-da! A brand new angle for the ad that would definitely get some extra people’s attention…and stick in a listener’s mind a little better.

Then, I started writing another script for that same client and mentioned couch potatoes. It was a good intro, but towards the end I wanted to bring the listener back to “the couch potato thing”. But I wanted to do it differently. So, I paused. And thought about couches. Then, I pictured the love seat in my own home. A love seat is a smaller couch, right? And couch potatoes aren’t all the same size. That was what I needed. Now, my radio script mentioned couch potatoes AND love seat potatoes. It’s nice when things work out. But it usually doesn’t happen on the first try.

Make some extra passes at your radio ads. Come up with some ideas…and then expand on them. Take yourself down a rabbit hole until it gets too weird, and then back up just a step or two. But the main reason my ads improved was because I didn’t say, “That’s good enough” after just the first or second drafts. And to be honest, I came up with the basic script ideas weeks ago…but let them marinate a while before I sat down to finish them.

The little things…can make a big difference.

Have a great day!

Duane Christensen

Results Radio Townsquare Media – Sioux Falls

Ad Writing / Ad Strategies / Digital Advertising / Radio Sales

605-940-7984

duane.christensen@results-radio.com

I’m a radio marketing guy at Results Radio Townsquare Media. I write this blog on behalf of my Sales & Marketing career at Results Radio Townsquare Media. I truly enjoy helping businesses get from their Point A to their Point B in an efficient manner. And Radio Advertising is just one of those ways that has worked wonderfully well for my radio clients. We have 8 radio stations within our group to help you reach the people you’re looking for within Sioux Falls and the surrounding area.

Who’s The Big Dog?

August 14, 2013August 14, 2013 / Duane Christensen

Who’s The Big Dog?

Image courtesy of “Photokanok” / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Would you like to take a bite out of the big dog’s market share? If you want to grow…that’s where you’ll most likely have to steal customers.

Are you saying to yourself, “Why would I want to steal customers?”

Well…that’s where your growth comes from. People are already using someone else to get the services or products you provide. But not all of those consumers are happy with who they’re doing business with. That’s where YOU come in.

You need to be more appealing to them. You need to offer something better. You need to treat them better. Ya know? Good customer service? Yeah, it’s important. Putting your employees on auto-pilot and free rein to act however they wish…isn’t a good plan. If you’re going to chop down the “big dog” a little bit…you’re going to have to perform better – in every aspect within your business.

THEN…you need to tell people about it. That’s where your radio advertising comes in. It’s easy to just spend some money on advertising and watch it NOT work. That’s a piece ‘a cake. The hard part is making your advertising WORK. Especially if you have a big dog in your industry who is “top of mind” in Sioux Falls (or wherever you are).

So, if that’s the case, you’ll probably have to run more than 3 radio spots per day. We’ll be looking at possibly 4, 5, or 6 radio ads per day. There’s not one formula that’s going to work best for everyone. You have to take into account your competitive situation – or your “big dog” situation.

And if you’re already one of the bigger dogs, then you have to be aware that you’ll have competitors who want to take a piece of YOUR pie. So, you’ll want to at least protect that share with a good ad strategy. And Radio is one of the best places to do that.

You’ll need to set yourself apart from your competition. You need a strategy that lets people know how you’re DIFFERENT. And how you’re able to make their life better by choosing YOU. It’s more than just “running radio ads”. We’ll help you come up with a differentiating strategy. We’ll help you come up with a series of radio commercials that can start “sticking” into people’s minds. And radio does that best when you insert EMOTION into your radio ads. You will need to connect with potential new customers on more than a logical level. You need to push some of those emotional hot buttons and get people to remember you and feel good about you when they need what you offer.

When you buy any kind of advertising…if you’re not told any of this, then you should be wary. You might be told that just by advertising on their TV station, newspaper, website, or buying a special direct mail list that RESULTS will automatically come to fruition. That’s not the case. You need to SAY something worthy in your advertising. The media you choose isn’t the power, it’s the message you’re spreading around. If you don’t say anything in your advertising that is compelling and if what you say doesn’t move someone closer to doing business with you…then you’re wasting your money.

Did you know that just by sharing a better message (above and beyond a poor or average message) your RETURN ON INVESTMENT can be up to 8x better? Yes. 8 TIMES! So, doesn’t that even make it sillier when you’re worried about getting the lowest ad rates? I can find you some really cheap advertising…but you’ll still be throwing that money down the drain if you’re not saying the right things in your ads.

You wanna go after the big dog? We’re good at helping local Sioux Falls businesses do that. And if there’s not a clear “big dog” in your category right now…we’re good at turning businesses INTO the BIG DOG. What’dya say? Ready to take a look at how we can help? How I can help? Yes, I work alone on most of my clients’ radio strategies and ads…but when it’s needed I also get help from my team at Results Radio. That might entail orchestrating a few brainstorming sessions with my team and your team, or bringing one or two extra people along to meet you and ask a few of their own questions.

Let’s start here though…

What would you like your advertising to accomplish?

What is your 5-year GOAL for your business?

Ideally, how much more would you like to grow in the next 5 years?

Let’s start there. I want to help you hit your big target. Maybe you have a goal of growing your business by 4x. That’s great. Let’s start the discussion on how we could help make that happen. It’s more than just advertising…and we’re here to give any extra advice and resources we can if you need it. We’re way more than just a radio station. We’re business growers. We’re staying on top of everything so our radio stations (and our websites) remain in the homes, cars, phones, and work areas of the majority of the population.

I’d love to help. All you have to do is reach out to me. I’m harmless. : )

Have a great day!

Duane Christensen

Results Radio Townsquare Media

Ad Writing / Ad Strategies / Digital Advertising / Radio Sales

605-940-7984

duane.christensen@results-radio.com

I’m a radio rep for Results Radio Townsquare Media. I write this blog on behalf of myself. Bottom line? I truly enjoy helping businesses get from their Point A to their Point B in an efficient manner. And Radio Advertising is just one of those ways that has worked wonderfully well for my radio clients. We have 8 radio stations within our group to help you reach the people you’re looking for.

I Want My Pot Roast NOW!

July 23, 2013 / Duane Christensen

Great success with your Radio Advertising is like a pot roast.

You’d love it if you could cook a pot roast in 10 to 20 minutes…but you’d be disappointed. You’d love it if your Radio Advertising worked at its maximum level within the first week or month you’re on the air with your radio ads…but you’ll be disappointed.

That delicious pot roast takes some time to fully cook and bring forth all of its juicy, meaty goodness. And it’s the same for your radio advertising…

Image courtesy of “-Marcus-” / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

But it’s well worth the wait when you bite into that roast. And your radio advertising will be well worth the wait when it starts getting into the minds of the listening audience (and sticking).

Let’s compare this to Direct Mail – the microwave popcorn of advertising.

Direct Mail gives you almost everything it can give you…immediately. Heck, “they” even say you’re supposed to commit to at least 4 mailings to a particular list before you can see any real results. So, why would you only do Radio for a few weeks and then abandon it when you’re disappointed?

What radio does that any Print advertising cannot do…is settle into your memory. Branding. You can become “the one” most people remember when they need what you sell. Wouldn’t that be cool? You can be “the one” people FEEL BEST ABOUT when they need what you sell. Do you know what the glorious results of that are? It means growth. It means you don’t have to put a “special offer” or discount into every ad. More profits. Better customers who value what you stand for, not people only looking for “a deal”. And that happens because of SOUND. You can stick into someone’s head with a good message faster and more sticky by using the power of Radio sound and repetition. (think Pavlov’s dogs – bell ringing)

How long is your product or service buying cycle? Which means how often to people need you? Every week? Every year? Ever 5 to 10 years? Your answer depends on how fast your advertising will work. If you’re selling mattresses, I’m going to make you a much happier advertiser with Radio versus your print advertising or Direct Mail campaign. Are you a remodeler, home builder, plumber, roofer, garage door company, farm implement dealer, furniture store, glass company? Same. Not everyone needs you today or next week or next quarter…that’s why it makes more sense to take the road to branding and getting into your prospects’ minds as one of the best, safest, most trusting place to buy from when they need you. You can’t make that happen with Direct Mail or the newspaper or a billboard.

You can’t do that with a crappy Radio message either. That’s why I focus on crafting a radio ad campaign strategy that lays the foundation for getting people to feel most comfortable with YOU…instead of any of your competitors.

So, let’s be patient and do it right with a tasty pot roast instead of settling for pop tarts or microwave popcorn. Let’s start the conversation. Give me a buzz and we can discuss your unique situation.

Side note: When you’re on the Radio…any Direct Mail piece you supplement your Radio campaign with will have more impact. Just make sure you have a bold message to share. Get noticed. People aren’t waiting patiently for your next advertisement. Every radio ad, postcard, thank-you note, etc., needs to pack a little punch.

Thanks for reading and have a great day!

Duane Christensen

Results Radio Townsquare Media – Sioux Falls

605-940-7984

My work website: http://duanechristensen.townsquareinteractive.com/

If you have questions about the cost of radio advertising, which radio stations would be a good fit, or how to get started attracting more customers, don’t be afraid to ask. I like to help good businesses take a bigger slice of the Sioux Falls market.

I’m a 39-year-old ad writer, radio marketing guy, and business helper. I’ve been learning and growing at Results Radio since 1998. I’d like the chance to show you what we can do for you.

What’s Your Reason for Advertising?

July 8, 2013 / Duane Christensen

Image courtesy of “Stuart Miles” / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Why do you want to advertise?

Because business is slow?
Because you now have some cash flow and want to keep growing?
Do you need a short-term “fix” or spike in sales?
Because you can’t keep customers happy and need to constantly replace them with new ones?
You’re a new business?
Something else?

I love helping those businesses who want to grow, and who want to continue to grow and take a bigger slice of the market. Or those who have a lot of competition and are fighting to maintain their share or would love to “move up in the ranks” within their local market.

And that can’t be done by quick bursts of advertising like a shotgun at the hip hoping you hit something. A splash here, a splash there, a sprinkling of ads to reach everyone – it just doesn’t work..

You wish that would work. Everyone does. But it doesn’t.

I want to help you and CAN help you, if you answer Yes! to these questions:

Are you looking for consistent growth, year after year?
Do you want an advertising campaign where you don’t have to discount your prices in order to snag a new customer?
Would you like someone to help you manage your ad campaign? (meaning someone who will stay on top of things, write ads, keep ads fresh, give you time to do other things like run your business)
Would you like help with what you say in your ads? (ad writing, set you apart from your competition, slogans, etc.)
Would you like to work with an advertising person who has your best interest at heart and can advise you on other marketing tactics?

Radio advertising is currently helping hundreds and hundreds of local Sioux Falls businesses. The businesses in which Radio Advertising helps MOST, are those who are being a little “different” in their advertising message. They’re not just using Radio for the sake of using Radio. They’re using it to engage on a deeper level with Radio listeners. They’re branding themselves as one of the top go-to places for Sioux Falls and surrounding area consumers.

Sure, Radio can “get your name out there”. But what good is that if nobody will remember your name when they actually need what you offer? Great radio advertising will brand your business name into the hearts and minds of the large radio listening audience. When you do that, you’re not only advertising to the miniscule slice of people who need your product or service NOW…but you’re branding yourself. That way, when the other 99% (give or take) of your radio audience who need you down the road…will remember you. And then, you’ll be one of the top choices they contact, or possibly the FIRST businesses they choose to contact.

Can you imagine how something like that could immensely improve your situation and bottom line?!

Radio is mass media. Which means it reaches a ton of people. Don’t get overly worked up about your “target”. People are people. And they listen to all different kinds of Radio. There is not one kind of person who listens to one kind of Radio. Radio reaches the masses. And you’d be surprised at which radio stations people listen to. Don’t use Radio for “targeting”. That’s what Direct Mail is for. Radio is for branding your business into the hearts and minds of massive amounts of people.

If you know the type of person you’re looking for (a profitable customer whom you enjoy serving and doing business with)…your Radio advertising should talk very directly to that person. Talk to their likes and dislikes. Talk to their heart. Befriend them with your Radio ads before they ever do a lick of business with you. Earn their trust. Help them feel confident they’ll be treated right if they decide to visit you. Make them feel like you’re “the one” to help solve their problem or improve their life.

What’s YOUR reason for advertising? Is because you’re dabbling with entrepreneurship? Or is because you want to take the bull by the horns and make something happen? Business growth and success does not happen automatically or magically. Successful local businesses went after it. They knew there were obstacles and possibly even a lot of competition in their field. They knew they had to advertise, commit to a plan, and do it differently than everyone else spinning their wheels and sprinkling their ad budget around hoping something sticks.

This isn’t a “DO THIS or you will fail” message. I just want to be one of the first people you contact when you have advertising and marketing questions. I’d like to help you understand what works and what doesn’t when you decide to invest in a successful advertising plan. I want to help. I love to see good businesses (who are good to their customers) succeed and prosper. I want to introduce you to MORE people who would appreciate the products or services you offer.

A good Radio plan can work wonders. And it doesn’t have to be overly complicated. I’ll explain how it all works – just give me a call and we’ll talk. No annoying pie charts and statistics about how Radio is the biggest, baddest thing since sliced bread. Just honest advice on how you attract more profitable customers and grow. Radio is helping my clients do that. Let’s help you do the same.

Have a great day! Hope to talk to you soon.

Duane Christensen

Results Radio Townsquare Media – Sioux Falls

605-940-7984

My work website: http://duanechristensen.townsquareinteractive.com/

I’m a 39-year-old ad writer, radio marketing guy, and business helper. I’ve been learning and growing at Results Radio since 1998. I’d like the chance to show you what we can do for you.

You Paid Too Much For Your Fireworks

July 5, 2013July 5, 2013 / Duane Christensen

Image courtesy of “graur razvan ionut” / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I got annoyed the other day, listening to all of the fireworks ads.

Yowza! If there’s any industry who needs to “say something different” in their ads…it’s the fireworks people. You know the ones with the big red, blue, yellow, white, or black buildings?

Here’s what they tell you…

“The lowest prices, the biggest bangs, in the big (insert color) building.” yada yada yada

Then, I heard this in one of them…

“If you didn’t get your fireworks at the big blue building, you paid too much.“

Then, a few minutes later, I heard another advertiser say this…

“If you didn’t get your fireworks at the big black building, you paid too much.“

Now, I’m confused.

Do you know where I got MY fireworks this year? At the smaller fireworks shop that was closest to where I live. Did they have the lowest prices? I have no idea. Even if I paid a couple bucks extra for the $57 of bangers I picked up…whatever. They were really busy for about two days before the 4th of July. And I’m sure they didn’t advertise.

Listening to all the fireworks ads, I thought, “There’s no way these places are getting much ROI from these ads.” These advertisers are trying to persuade us to go to their establishment based on price mostly – which there’s no way that fireworks prices differ that much between buildings. Or they’re trying to tell us that they have the ultimate boomers and sparklies to light up the sky. I don’t believe it.

So, what would I do if I owned one of these places? My radio ads would let people know where I’m at… “Hey if you live or work near (insert location), stop by and let’s get you all set up for your Independence Day celebration.” My radio ads would also let people know that most fireworks are going to cost pretty much the same wherever you go…so you might as well shop at a place with some friendly smiles and free “big daddy” punks.” (or some kind of freebie that you give them with every purchase)

But the biggest way to make a fireworks ad go a long way is to make the WHAT YOU SAY and the WAY the ad is voiced totally different from every other fireworks ad. Don’t make it sound like the monster-truck-sunday-sunday-sunday! ads. Just tell it like it is. “Yup, we sell fireworks just like the 50 other places in this town. And the prices aren’t really that different. We’ll greet you with a smile, give you the help you need if you want it, and thank you for your business when you’re done shopping.”

Call me crazy…but that kind of message would stand out against a crowd of fireworks ads who all tend to be saying the same exact thing.

Have a great day!

Duane Christensen

Results Radio Townsquare Media – Sioux Falls

605-940-7984

My work website: http://duanechristensen.townsquareinteractive.com/

Radio Advertising: How To Find Success and Results

May 31, 2013June 27, 2013 / Duane Christensen

How many successes in your life can you account for…in which you didn’t have to put forth the time, effort, and work to get it?

…

Success in your marriage?

Time and effort.

Success in parenting?

Time and effort.

Success in school?

Time and effort.

Success in business?

Time and effort.

Success in Cheesecake making?

Time and effort.

Success in advertising though? Well, that should happen immediately! And there should be a 1-size-fits-all formula to make it virtually effortless!

Something smells wrong here.

Image courtesy of “Naypong” / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I’ve made the occasional mistake of letting a business owner advertise “the wrong way”. I gave a recommendation, but they rejected it, and put forth his own terms. Even though every other ounce of advertising he’d done in the past could have been considered less than successful, he wanted to keep doing it the same way.

There is actually a rough formula for advertising success…but two important factors in that formula are time and effort. And this is so important in Radio advertising (but also most advertising). Don’t you plan on being in business for longer than 2 weeks? Then, why do you keep searching for short-term, magical advertising successes?

Can you tell a child to “Be good” just ONE time…and that child grows up to be a generous, caring, benefit to society? We wish.

All lasting, good things that we acquire throughout our lives require time and effort. Of course, you can add in other ingredients to the recipe, like discipline, patience, nurturing, intellect, etc. But I need you to understand that advertising success isn’t automatic. Just because you’re “on TV” means nothing. Just because you’re “on the radio”, “in the newspaper”, or “on the Internet”… means nothing.

When you want to “do” advertising in Sioux Falls (or anywhere) the right way, call me and let’s get to work.

Have a great day!

Duane Christensen

Results Radio Townsquare Media

Sioux Falls

605-940-7984

I write ads, prepare radio schedules, create strategies for your ads (so you can stand out from your competition), give online and other marketing advice, and will keep your advertising fresh and new. I hear a lot of ads that air for 6 months or more before they’re changed out. That’s way way too long…and it’s not doing you any good. You have a lot of things you can share with the public that will help you become a trusted resource to them. Then they BUY. Let’s do that!

My Results Radio Townsquare Media website: http://duanechristensen.townsquareinteractive.com/

Frequently Asked Questions

April 24, 2013April 24, 2013 / Duane Christensen

Frequently Asked Questions

I think most FAQs are dumb. So, why not try to create one that’s valuable to someone? This is a work in progress.

How much does radio advertising cost?

It varies. The thing is…you’re not a “cookie-cutter” business…so we don’t provide cookie-cutter advertising solutions. It’s custom. You might need 60-second ads telling stories about you and your business to make people feel best about you when they need what you sell. Or maybe 30-second commercials are ok. There are even 15-second sponsorships to consider. And the number of competitors you have and how much advertising power or “voice” they have in Sioux Falls is a factor in how many ads you need to be airing each week to take a bite out of their market share. But don’t be afraid. We’ll talk. You’ll ask questions. I’ll ask questions. And get to the bottom of what it will take to make your Sioux Falls radio advertising work!

Which radio stations should I be on?

This is a question that’s kind of important…but not as important as you might think. At Results Radio Townsquare Media we have 8 radio stations. Stations that cover a

pretty wide variety of people. But you never really know exactly who’s listening to what. There are Grandmas listening to… >>>

>>> Read the rest here. http://duanechristensen.townsquareinteractive.com/frequently-asked-questions/ OR…if you’d rather read about something else besides the rest of the FAQs…poke around some other page of the site.

I’m sending you to my Townsquare website because there is a whole other hodge-podge of info there that a small business owner might like to see…instead of trying to cruise through some of these blog posts looking for answers. Ya know?

And if you’re a radio person or marketing person who reads this… let me know if you approve of anything or if you might disagree with something. I’m open to opinions and discussion!

AND…if there’s a question you’d like added to the list…let me know. I just added it, so I’m sure there will be more and more added to the list over time.

Thanks!

Duane Christensen

Results Radio Townsquare Media guy (who writes this Sioux Falls Radio Advertising blog at 11:15 p.m. on Wednesday nights)

605-940-7984

http://duanechristensen.townsquareinteractive.com/

Your Radio Headline

April 14, 2013April 15, 2013 / Duane Christensen

Sioux Falls Radio Advertising blog…

Your Radio Headline

“It all starts with the snotty noses and green boogies.”

“I talk trash all day long.”

“Chainsaw juggling…”

“We have some fantastic sewing machines that are barely street legal.”

Image courtesy of “Ian Kahn” / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

“When your car gets a case of the crinkles…”

“What did the dog psychologist say to the dog patient?”

“Every year, there are more than 40,000 toilet-related injuries in the U.S…and I hope I’m not one of them this year.”

THESE are just a few radio ad headlines from past ads that my clients were daring enough to go with. They may not seem “daring”…but you wouldn’t believe how “SAFE” most business owners want to play. And if it came right down to it, I bet you would hesitate for a minute (or a week) before you gave the OK on one of these headlines.

But you know what? A headline that catches people’s attention like these…is part of the formula. Yes. I have a formula. Or I think it’s about 4 or 5 different radio ad formulas. Subconscious though. I wouldn’t now how to even explain them.

For example…

I don’t even remember why chainsaw juggling came to mind…but it caused me to compare chainsaw juggling to all of the things small business owners juggle every day.

I pictured in my mind what a smashed up car looked like. It was crinkly. So…that’s where the “crinkles” line came from for the body shop ad.

And what better way to lighten up a “psychology conversation” than with a dog psychologist joke?

I’m not a good organizer…I’m not a list maker…I’m not an accountant… so I think that makes me better at some of the creative stuff. Of course, I still have lots to learn. Even though I’ve been writing radio ads for about 9 years, I can see how I improve year after year. If you don’t strive to improve and learn consistently, you’ll get left in the dust. I don’t plan on getting left in the dust, I plan on being ahead of as many marketing people as I can. But… (I’m off track) back to the HEADLINES!

Don’t be afraid to be different with your headlines. They’re like the ad for the rest of your ad. If you don’t hook’em at the beginning…you’re screwed. And then…keep ’em interested all the way through. Don’t bore us to tears with the rest of the ad. Tell me something I don’t know. Tell me something that could cause me to make a new decision based on new information. Then wrap that around strong words and voices and inflections and realness and sincerity. A bit of humor doesn’t hurt once in a while either (but don’t go overboard – most national advertising is all humor and no selling – big fat wastes of money).

So, that’s the end of this hodge-podge blog post. Maybe my headlines I listed could give you a few sparks of your own. Just don’t be too “safe” with your headlines and your advertising in general. Being too “safe” is what will let your competition pass you by.

Have a great day!

Duane Christensen

Sioux Falls Radio Advertising blog

(I work for Results Radio Townsquare Media – call me) 🙂

605-940-7984

duane.christensen@results-radio.com

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8 radio stations – radio commercial writing and production – strategy – sales – yada yada yada (whatever is right for you…that’s what we’ll do)

Of course you have questions. Rates? Cost? Stations? Just ask.

Patience and Diligence When Starting Your Radio Advertising

March 12, 2013March 12, 2013 / Duane Christensen

What should your radio ads sound like?
What kind of style?
Who should voice them?
Should you use humor or no humor?
Emotion or intellect?

These are all good questions. And they are questions that won’t get answered all at once. The more I talk to you, the more the answers will surface. Or sometimes smack me in the face. It’s amazing how many times I’m talking to a Sioux Falls business owner, and I’m asking questions left and right and listening, wondering where the “gold” for the radio ads will come from. And then… from out of left field, they’ll say something that dang near makes me fall out of my chair. They’ll say something that could possibly be the shiny nugget to make it all work. Almost as if it was sent down from the heavens (and they don’t even know they said anything important).

And then, another and another, and pretty soon I have 3 to 5 pages of scribbly notes with circles and underlines and capitals and exclamation points.

Image courtesy of “digitalart” / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

It doesn’t always happen in the first meeting. Usually not. But this is what you need to expect when you’re calling someone for local advertising help. You should expect it…you just won’t usually get it. So, LOOK OUT… Most will sell you an ad package and then give a few notes to a production person back at their office. They’ll say, “Make an ad out of this. It starts tomorrow.” Can you see where your results may be non-existent from this method?

I won’t start a radio advertising campaign for you if I’m not completely confident it will “move the needle” for you. If it takes a month to get it right, that’s better than pulling the trigger prematurely and wasting your money, wouldn’t you agree?

If you’re a local Sioux Falls area business person who would love to stop “shootin’ from the hip” with your ad budget…and finally start making more from what you’re investing…then we need to talk. Are you just a teensy weensy bit competitive? It really helps. It’s almost required. If you’d like to grow your sales, an intelligent and creative advertising campaign would most likely make you a much happier human being. I’d like to help make that happen.

How much can you grow? How fast? What will it take? All good questions that I’d love to help you answer. Radio advertising isn’t a one size fits all sort of thing. If you’re sold a package by someone else and then put on “auto-pilot” …don’t expect too much for “results”.

What do I do for my clients who are on the radio right now? What would I do for YOU once you’ve started with an exciting new radio plan? I always have my radar up for the next great ad idea that can move someone a lot closer to doing business with you. We change the ads up about once a month depending on how heavy your ads are scheduled. There’s a limit to the number of weeks an ad can run before it gets “played out”. So, we keep it fresh – it’s in your best interest.

Thanks for reading. Have a great day!

Duane Christensen

605-940-7984

Results Radio Townsquare Media – Sioux Falls

Sioux Falls Radio Advertising blog

https://siouxfallsradioadvertising.com/